Improvement in railroad-signals



R. JENNINGS.

RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

Patented Jan. 25,1876.

"Eg E FT E5555.-

PETERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAPNERV wAsmNGTcN. D D.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT JENNINGS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO FRANCIS G. ROMEY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAlLROAD-SIGNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,743, dated January 25, 1876; application filed July 30,1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT JENNINGS, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a specification; and I do hereby declare that in the same is contained a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to an aircompressor, operated through the medium of a combination of devices attached thereto, by the wheels of a passing train. and located at some dis tance from a crossing, to sound a whistle at said crossing upon the approach of a train.

In the further description of my invention which iollows, due reference must be had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, and Fig. 2 an end view of the same. Fig.

3 is a plan of the invention, and Figs. 4 and 5 different views of portions of the same on an enlarged scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.

A is the bellows confined within the frame a, and constructed to distend vertically as it is inflated, by mechanism hereinafter described. The lowest section b of the bellows is hinged to the adjoining one, and provided with a valve opening inward, in order to cause the inflation of the bellows as the section b is vibrated.

The vibration of the section b of the bellows is effected by the movement of the arm 0, secured, in a manner hereinafter described, to the shaft d. B is a crank fastened to the shaft d, and placed in such position with reference to the track 0 as to allow the wheels of the locomotive and cars to come into contact with it.

By reference to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the arm 0 is loose upon the shaft d, and is operated through the immediate agency of a slotted arm, f, rigidly connected to the shaft, and weighted to keep the arm 0 in contact with the section b of the bellows. This combination of arms is for the purpose of allowing the operation of the bellows only when the train is approaching the crossing, the slotted arm f being inoperative when actuated by a train moving in a contrary direction.

The arrow indicates the direction of the train when approaching the crossing.

The whistle, which is represented by O, is placed at the crossing, and connected to the bellows by means of a pipe, g. The capacity of the bellows, when fully distended, is suffic ent to supply a current of air to the whistle during the time occupied by the train in passing from the bellows to the crossing. v

Weights are placed upon the top of the bellows to give the necessary pressure of air.

To prevent bursting of the bellows a safety-valve, D, attached to the .top thereof is opened, as the bellows is filled, by the valvestem coming into contact with a projection, h, on the frame.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The whistle-sounding bellows A, having the hinged lower section b, and confined and 0p erating'within the frame a, as described, in combination with the crank B, shaft 01, arm 0, and weighted and slotted arm f, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1875.

ROBERT JENNINGS. Witnesses W. W. WHARTON, J NO. '1. MADDOX. 

